Ljubicić Neven, Gomercić Marija, Zekanović Drazen, Bodrozić-Dzakić Tomislava, Duzel Ana
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital, Vinogradska ulica 29, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Croat Med J. 2012 Aug;53(4):374-8. doi: 10.3325/cmj.2012.53.374.
To investigate the association between plasma concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and formation of esophageal varices.
Thirty-five patients with alcoholic cirrhosis were divided into three groups according to the Child-Pugh classification: grade A (n=11, 32%), B (n=12, 34%), and C (n=12, 34%). System hemodynamic parameters were measured using sphygmomanometry, electrocardiography, and echocardiography. NT-proBNP was analyzed by using an electrochemiluminiscence sandwich immunoassay.
The presence of esophageal varices was associated with a higher serum NT-proBNP level, with a cut-off value of <101 pg/mL (sensitivity, 87.60% and specificity, 72.73%; P<0.001).
NT-proBNP was found to be a marker of the presence of esophageal varices, but not a marker of progression of liver cirrhosis. In cirrhotic patients, NT-proBNP value <101 pg/mL was shown to be a valuable noninvasive parameter in predicting the presence of varices.
探讨血浆N末端B型利钠肽原（NT-proBNP）浓度与食管静脉曲张形成之间的关联。
35例酒精性肝硬化患者根据Child-Pugh分级分为三组：A级（n = 11，32%）、B级（n = 12，34%）和C级（n = 12，34%）。使用血压计、心电图和超声心动图测量系统血流动力学参数。采用电化学发光夹心免疫分析法分析NT-proBNP。
食管静脉曲张的存在与较高的血清NT-proBNP水平相关，临界值<101 pg/mL（敏感性87.60%，特异性72.73%；P<0.001）。
发现NT-proBNP是食管静脉曲张存在的标志物，但不是肝硬化进展的标志物。在肝硬化患者中，NT-proBNP值<101 pg/mL被证明是预测静脉曲张存在的有价值的非侵入性参数。
